出埃及記 5
1 此後，梅瑟同亞郎去見法朗說：「以色列的天主雅威這樣說：「你應放我的百姓走，好叫他們在曠野裏過傑敬拜我。」
After that, Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Let My people go, so that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.’”
2 法朗問說：「誰是雅威，我該聽他的命，放以色列走﹖我不認識雅威，也不放以色列走。」
But Pharaoh replied, “Who is the LORD that I should obey His voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and I will not let Israel go.”
3 他們回答說：「希伯來人的天主遇見了我們。請讓我們走三天的路到曠野裏，向上主我們的天主獻祭，免得他用瘟疫刀兵擊殺我們。」
“The God of the Hebrews has met with us,” they answered. “Please let us go on a three-day journey into the wilderness to sacrifice to the LORD our God, or He may strike us with plagues or with the sword.”
4 埃及王回答他們說：「梅瑟、亞郎啊! 你們為什麼妨礙百姓工作呢﹖去服你們的勞役罷! 」
But the king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you draw the people away from their work? Get back to your labor!”
5 法朗又說：「現在他們比本地的人民還多，你們竟然叫他們歇工﹖」
Pharaoh also said, “Look, the people of the land are now numerous, and you would be stopping them from their labor.”
6 那一天法朗命令那些百姓中的監工和工頭說：「
That same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their foremen:
7 你們以後不要再像往日一樣，給百姓做磚用的草楷，叫他們自己去拾草。
“You shall no longer supply the people with straw for making bricks. They must go and gather their own straw.
8 但你們仍向他們要往日所做的同樣磚數，一點也不可減少，因為他們懶惰，所以才吶喊說：我們要去向我們的天主獻祭。
But require of them the same quota of bricks as before; do not reduce it. For they are lazy; that is why they are crying out, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’
9 應給這些人加重工作，使他們只工作，而不聽謊言。」苦工加重
Make the work harder on the men so they will be occupied and pay no attention to these lies.”
10 百姓中的監工頭遂出去向百姓說：「法朗這樣吩咐：我不再給你們草楷。
So the taskmasters and foremen of the people went out and said to them, “This is what Pharaoh says: ‘I am no longer giving you straw.
11 你們看那裏能找到草楷，就到那裏去拾罷! 但應有的工作一點也不可減少。」
Go and get your own straw wherever you can find it; but your workload will in no way be reduced.’”
12 百姓就分散到埃及全境，拾取麥莖充當草楷。
So the people scattered all over the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw.
13 監工催迫說：「你們每天應該完成當天的工作，像從前有草楷時一樣。」
The taskmasters kept pressing them, saying, “Fulfill your quota each day, just as you did when straw was provided.”
14 法朗的監工責打他們所派出的以色列子民的工頭說：「你們昨天今天為什麼沒有完成像前天所做的磚數呢﹖」
Then the Israelite foremen, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over the people, were beaten and asked, “Why have you not fulfilled your quota of bricks yesterday or today, as you did before?”
15 以色列子民的工頭遂去向法朗訴苦說：「你為什麼這樣對待你的僕人們呢﹖
So the Israelite foremen went and appealed to Pharaoh: “Why are you treating your servants this way?
16 不給你僕人們草楷，只對我們說：做磚罷! 原是你人民的錯，你卻來打你的僕人們。」
No straw has been given to your servants, yet we are told, ‘Make bricks!’ Look, your servants are being beaten, but the fault is with your own people.”
17 法朗回答說：「你們太懶惰了! 所以說：讓我們去祭獻上主!
“You are slackers!” Pharaoh replied. “Slackers! That is why you keep saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.’
18 現在都快去作工! 決不供給你們草楷，但是磚卻該如數交上。
Now get to work. You will be given no straw, yet you must deliver the full quota of bricks.”
19 以色列子民的工頭因所出的命令說：你們每天應做的磚數，不得減少，」便知自己更陷於困難中。梅瑟受責哀求天主
The Israelite foremen realized they were in trouble when they were told, “You must not reduce your daily quota of bricks.”
20 工頭們由法朗那裏出來，遇見梅瑟和亞郎正等候他們，
When they left Pharaoh, they confronted Moses and Aaron, who stood waiting to meet them.
21 就對他們說：「願上主鑑察懲罰你們! 你們使我們在法朗和他臣僕眼中成了可恨的，就好像把刀交在他們手中，宰殺我們。」
“May the LORD look upon you and judge you,” the foremen said, “for you have made us a stench before Pharaoh and his officials; you have placed in their hand a sword to kill us!”
22 梅瑟回到上主那裏說：「吾主，你為什麼折磨這百姓﹖為什麼偏偏打發我呢﹖
So Moses returned to the LORD and asked, “Lord, why have You brought trouble upon this people? Is this why You sent me?
23 自從我到法朗那裏，奉你的名講話以來，他更加折磨這百姓，而你也沒有整救你的百姓。」
Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has brought trouble on this people, and You have not delivered Your people in any way.”
